When Elizabeth Turner was born about 1789, in Barnstaple, Devon, England, United Kingdom, her father, William Turner, was 38 and her mother, Elizabeth Rice, was 40. She was buried in Barnstaple, Devon, England.
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"Former slave Olaudah Equiano settled in London and published his autobiography titled ""The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano."" Equiano learned to read and write and converted to Christianity. His autobiography is one of the oldest published works by an African-American writer."
English: occupational name from Middle English t(o)urnour, turner ‘turner’ (Old French to(u)rn(e)our), mainly denoting someone who fashioned small objects of wood, metal, or bone on a lathe, but also a variety of other occupations, including turnspit and translator or interpreter. This surname may have become confused with Toner . In North America, it is also very common among African Americans.
English: occasionally perhaps a nickname from Middle English turn-hare, a compound of Middle English tournen ‘to turn, direct, steer’ + hare ‘hare’, a name for someone in charge of the greyhounds in hare coursing or an exaggerated compliment for someone who could run fast. See also Turnbull .
English: perhaps also from Middle English t(o)urn(e)our ‘jouster, one who takes part in a tournament’ (Old French tornoieor, tournoieur).
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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